LEF1 influences diabetic retinopathy and retinal pigment epithelial cell ferroptosis via the miR-495-3p/GRP78 axis through lnc-MGC

Figure 3 Downregulation of lnc-MGC can mediate the protective effect of retinal pigment epithelial cells through ER stress and ferroptosis. A: CCK-8 detection of cell proliferation activity; B: TUNEL detection of cell apoptosis. The scale bar represents 100 μm; C: ELISA detection of the expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6; D: Flow cytometry detection of reactive oxygen species; E: Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase 3; F: Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the ER-related proteins GRP78, CHOP and XBP-1; G: Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the ferroptosis-associated proteins GPX4, HO-1, FTH1, and xCT. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, and ^cP < 0.001. NC: Normal control; HG: High glucose; ROS: Reactive oxygen species.